Chord Colors

E Harmonic Minor scale

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About the E Harmonic Minor scale

E Harmonic Minor is used for classical minor keys, flamenco, metal and Middle Eastern melodies. Think of it as a minor scale with a dramatic raised seventh, the backbone of classical minor keys.

Its notes are E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. The formula is W H W W H 1½ H.

Also called Keeravani and Kirwani.

Learn more about the E Harmonic Minor scale

In E Harmonic Minor, the open strings sound E, A, G, and B. The lowest E on a guitar is the open low E string. The key plays in open position, a whole octave of the scale falling within the first three frets.

Positions

Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.

CAGED

Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.

E shapeopen
D shapefr 1
C shapefr 4
A shapefr 6
G shapefr 9
3NPS

3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.

Shape 1open
Shape 2fr 2
Shape 3fr 3
Shape 4fr 5
Shape 5fr 7
Shape 6fr 8
Shape 7fr 10
7-position system

7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.

Position 1open
Position 2fr 2
Position 3fr 3
Position 4fr 5
Position 5fr 7
Position 6fr 8
Position 7fr 11

Chords in the key of E Harmonic Minor

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

i E minor
Position 1 of 4
ii° F sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4
III+ G augmented
Position 1 of 4
iv A minor
Position 1 of 4
V B
Position 1 of 4
VI C
Position 1 of 4
vii° D sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4

Seventh chords in E Harmonic Minor

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

i E minor major seven
Position 1 of 4
ii° F sharp minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4
III+ G major seven sharp five
Position 1 of 4
iv A minor seven
Position 1 of 4
V B seven
Position 1 of 4
VI C major seven
Position 1 of 4
vii° D sharp diminished seven
Position 1 of 4

Progressions in E Harmonic Minor

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1EERoot
2F#F♯Major 2nd
3GGMinor 3rd
4AAPerfect 4th
5BBPerfect 5th
6CCMinor 6th
7D#D♯Major 7th
StepsW H W W H 1½ H
Semitones2-1-2-2-1-3-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Harmonic Minor in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

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E Harmonic Minor scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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